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New Mexico sees spike in meth overdoses

Daily Times, May 16, 2016

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico’s hospitals have been seeing a spike in deaths and emergency room visits caused by methamphetamine.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that heroin and prescription opioids account for most overdose deaths in New Mexico, but methamphetamine overdose deaths have been climbing since 2008. According to a state Department of Health report, emergency room visits because of amphetamines have nearly tripled from 2010 to 2014.

In 2009 there were 39 deaths involving methamphetamine. In 2014 there were 111. The number of amphetamine- and meth-related visits to New Mexico emergency departments increased from 382 in 2010 to 1,097 in 2014.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen says the data suggests methamphetamine use is increasing in New Mexico.